Just got a Yamaha RX-V671 & Samsung PN59D6500DF. They work fine. Unfortunately the V671 does not output analog audio from an HDMI source.

I have a really good stereo system (Nikko Alpha VI, NAD 1155 & big JBL speakers) that I want to use with this new home theater system. My HDMI sources are an HD cable box, Samsung BluRay and OPPO DVD.

It looks like Yamaha & all the other A/V receiver companies expect you to chuck everything and use their stuff. Basically, I want to use my existing 2ch stereo system for left/right and the V671 for everything else. Thought about using HDMI splitters to HDMI/component converters but it seems that all the reviews say they are junk.

It looks like Yamaha & all the other A/V receiver companies expect you to chuck everything and use their stuff. Basically, I want to use my existing 2ch stereo system for left/right and the V671 for everything else.

Well, not chuck everything, just the pre-amp and amp that the receiver has built-in and you paid for...

Better solution would have been an AVR with pre-amp outputs such that you could hook up your Nikko as mains and then use the built-in amp channels for the rest of the system. Still wouldn't re-use the NAD piece, which really is duplicating the switching/pre-amp functions of the AVR.

I am surprised that the Yamaha doesn't have pre-amp outputs. Many other brands/models in that price range have them. Not at all uncommon (among the AVS crowd at least) to use an external amp with an AVR.

Only suggestion without exchanging the Yamaha I would think would be a speaker selector to switch between the NAD and Yamaha depending on which source you're using.

Need to retain the NAD because I have other devices for it. To summarize, the Yamaha A/V doesn't output analog audio from HDMI sources. The Samsung TV doesn't have Toslink or any analog output. I suspect HDCP is involved in all of this.

Don't know if they will work but it should be a binary yes/no. Must say that in the last 3 days I've learned a lot about HDMI etc (more than I really wanted).

As for (modern) A/V receivers, it looks like none of them provide analog audio from an HDMI source. We can probably thank Hollywood and HDCP. I could be wrong and would love to be corrected. I have to believe that I'm traveling a path already traveled by others. Can't imagine an audiophile chucking his Krell for an A/V receiver.

Don't know if they will work but it should be a binary yes/no. Must say that in the last 3 days I've learned a lot about HDMI etc (more than I really wanted).

What do you think that is going to do for you?

Quote:

As for (modern) A/V receivers, it looks like none of them provide analog audio from an HDMI source. We can probably thank Hollywood and HDCP. I could be wrong and would love to be corrected. I have to believe that I'm traveling a path already traveled by others.

Again, probably more about the design of the digital / analog sections than HDCP.

Quote:

Can't imagine an audiophile chucking his Krell for an A/V receiver.

Nope, they wouldn't. Any audiophile worth his green felt pen would create a dedicated 2-channel system in a room without some nasty TV and center channel speaker in the way...

The rest of us just use a pre/pro (not a receiver) and a nice big amp.

I hope that the devices I mentioned will provide the analog l/r signals for my 2ch stereo. Could be wrong. This all started because I was "informed" that the Yamaha was one of the few A/V receivers that had analog audio outs. After buying, I learn that it's not with HDMI sources. I'm not a well healed audiophile. My 2ch stereo and home theater have to fit in the same room in my castle. What's a pre/pro? Have the nice big amp.

I hope that the devices I mentioned will provide the analog l/r signals for my 2ch stereo. Could be wrong.

I think it's going to cause you pain and suffering...

If it does produce analog L/R out, it's because it has downshifted the HDMI sources to 2-channel PCM, which it will do all the time, even if you wanted to use the 5-channel stuff.

Why not just dual-run the analog outputs from your HDMI devices to your NAD in parallel with the HDMI that goes to the Yamaha. You still have the speaker switching to deal with.

Quote:

This all started because I was "informed" that the Yamaha was one of the few A/V receivers that had analog audio outs. After buying, I learn that it's not with HDMI sources.

Seriously, can you take/send it back? Or is it too late?

Quote:

What's a pre/pro? Have the nice big amp.

Pre-amp / processor. The modern equivalent of your NAD. Better feature set / performance than the receiver, and would work well with your amp (plus another one for the rest of the setup). Two well-known and respected examples: